Mamelodi Sundowns, the reigning champions of African continental football, swept the boards at the Gauteng Sports Awards 2017.
Their star skipper, Hlompho Kekana was crowned Sports Personality of the Year, while head coach, Pitso Mosimane was declared Coach of the Year.
To cap a great night for the Brazilians, the Absa Premiership outfit who ran short of defending their African crown when they were booted out in the quarterfinals, also picked up the hotly contested Team of the Year.
Lawrence Brittain of Tuks Rowing edged out stiff competition to claim the Sportsman of the Year award while the Sportswoman of the Year award went to Tanita Ramburuth-Hurt of Wits Sport.
Athlete Maria Combrink won the Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability and Wheelchair Tennis star, Evans Maripa, took home the Sportsman of the Year with a Disability.
The collective athletes at Disability Sports Athletics team were voted Sports Team of the Year with a Disability.
On the media front, SABC1’s Sport@10 was voted Sports Programme of the Year, Kaya FM’s Mbali Mokoko emerged victorious in the Journalist of the Year award category and Jozi FM collected the Community Media of the Year award.
Read: Caxton gets two nominations for 2017 Gauteng Sports Awards
Mdevas Mokubela, an avid fan of Kaizer Chiefs, scooped the Sports Fan of the Year as voted for by the public.
Some 18 trophies were handed to deserving winners from different sporting codes. A record three Lifetime Achievement recipients were honoured – Peter ‘Terror’ Mathebula, Selinah Metsing and Maurizio Mariano.
The glittering star-studded occasion broadcast live from The Globe at Silverstar Casino in Mogale City was attended by the Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Faith Mazibuko as well as mayors, officials and dignitaries.
“What happened tonight was truly spectacular. Gauteng, take a bow. I’m proud of how our achievers were honoured and the worthy winners celebrated,” said Mazibuko.
“This is a special project of the department and we wish to see it grow in leaps and bounds in years to come.”
The complete list of winners:
- Sportsman of the Year – Lawrence Brittain – Tuks Rowing
- Sportswoman of the Year – Tanita Ramburuth-Hurt – Wits Sport
- Sports Team of the Year – Mamelodi Sundowns – Football
- Sportswoman of the Year with a Disability – Maria Combrink – CGSAPD Athletics
- Sportsman of the Year with a Disability – Evans Maripa – Wheelchair Tennis South Africa
- Sports Team of the Year with a Disability – Disability Sports Athletics Team – Athletics
- Coach of the Year – Pitso Mosimane (Mamelodi Sundowns) – Football
- Technical Official of the Year – Mpho Makhoba (Tennis South Africa) – Tennis
- Administrator of the Year – Gussie Bartlett (Eastern Gauteng Wrestling Association) – Wrestling
- Rand West City Most Promising Athlete of the Year – Sheldon Thomas (UJ Sport for Disability) – Athletics
- Most Promising Team of the Year – Gauteng U19 girls team – Wheelchair Basketball
- Journalist of the Year – Mbali Mokoko – Kaya FM
- School Sports Athlete of the Year – Mary Dzimba – Athletics
- Community Sports and Recreation Programme of the Year – In-Touch Community Support Group – Hockey and football
- Community Media of the Year – Jozi FM
- Sports Programme of the Year (Public vote) – SABC Sport@10
- Sports Fan of the Year (Public vote) – Mdevas Mokubela
- Sports Personality of the Year (Public vote) – Hlompho Kekana of Mamelodi Sundowns.
